Zack Snyder, Please Be Quiet. (A Rant)

(Image Credit: Comicbook.com)

(Please note that the words I spout will have no effect on my opinion on "Batman v. Superman." I'm also aware that, in the grand scheme of things, this is a very minuscule thing to get worked up over. But that's what journalism is for, right?)

You know what really grinds my gears? Ignorant people.

You know which specific ignorant person grinds my gears right now? Zack Snyder. Director of Man of Steel and, of course, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Let me clarify some things for a sec. I don't hate Zack Snyder. Hate is a strong word thrown around way too often. And I don't hate Snyder's directing. He has a very unique visual style, something which every director wants to develop. 

But sometimes the things he says just briefly make me want to give him a piece of my mind. So that's what I'm going to do. Right here. Right now.

In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, a reporter once again drew Snyder's attention to the overblown destruction and and unnecessary death toll caused by Superman and Zod in Man of Steel. For those who haven't seen the movie, or need a refresher, behold:

Yeah. Lots of death and destruction right there.

Anyway, so the reporter is talking to Snyder about Man of Steel and then this happened:

'Snyder was mystified when someone told him that they couldn’t think of a movie in recent memory that’s had as much collateral damage as “Man of Steel.” “I went, really? And I said, well, what about ['Star Wars: The Force Awakens']?” the director says. “In ‘Star Wars’ they destroy five planets with billions of people on them. That’s gotta be one of the highest death toll movies in history, the new ‘Star Wars’ movie, if you just do the math.”'

Really? This is what its come to?

Now, I can in no way deny that he's right when he says The Force Awakens has one of the highest death tolls in film history. To do that would be totally naive of me. I mean, several planets destroyed? Yeah, that's even more death and destruction. But Snyder is also naive, since he doesn't see how dumb his defense was.

Why rope Star Wars into this argument? It's a different entity altogether, besides the fact that both Man of Steel and The Force Awakens are long-awaited returns to beloved franchises. But defending the death toll in your movie by pointing fingers at another is childish. I'm sure that when we were all younger (or, with the exception of Snyder, middle-aged.)we all were at one point being scolded by our parents for doing one thing, but we decided to say "But what about ______? He did something bad last week and he didn't get in trouble!" or "______ did something and you guys didn't notice!" Who cares? We're not talking about that other person! We're talking about you and what you did wrong. We're talking about your movie Man of Steel, Zack, not The Force Awakens.

But, just for kicks and giggles, let's compare the two movies.

(Image Credit: Lucasfilm)

In The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke, having learned Kylo Ren's men have lost track of BB-8 and, by extension, the map to Luke Skywalker, gives the green light to General Hux to christen the Starkiller Base by wiping out Hosnian Prime, the latest meeting planet of the New Republic. After a Nazi-esque speech, the dirty deed is done and the Hosnian system is destroyed, along with several other worlds. 

It's a scene that is meant to be a clear, obvious display of the First Order's cruelty and ruthlessness, and the seemingly unlimited power of the Starkiller Base. A power that our heroes will have to go up against very soon. Without that scene, the threat of the Starkiller wouldn't be as imminent. When the Resistance hears that the First Order are en route to wipe them out, we know they, as well as the entire galaxy, are in extreme danger. Did five planets have to go up in flames? Maybe not. But destruction was needed for the sake of story. Would we take the Death Star seriously if Tarkin hadn't ordered the obliteration of Alderaan? 

The sequence is also edited to be quite intense and emotional. We might not know a single character on any of those planets, but the impact of seeing five whole worlds wiped out and knowing that countless lives were lost is just heartbreaking.

(Warner Bros.)

In Man of Steel, Zod and his Kryptonian followers decide to terraform Earth into a new Krypton. A world where Kryptonian civilization can begin anew. Their target? Metropolis, of course. Home of Clark Kent, himself. Superman, up to this point in the film, has wrestled with the question of what his role on Earth should be. Should he lay low or be a saviour? Will he be accepted or feared? Should he side with his people or protect the only home he's known for his whole life? Of course, he decides to protect Earth and stop Zod. What follows is a lengthy, explosive, super-powered fist fight that sees Superman and Zod literally level buildings by smashing each other into them. Superman eventually ends Zod by brutally snapping his neck. 

Not only does the battle of Metropolis undo and ignore the intriguing questions raised earlier in the film, but it's totally...wrong. This is a Superman movie. Superman. The comic-book poster boy for peace, logic, purity, and selflessness. Why doesn't he seem to give a second thought about the people he's decided to fight for and protect? Wouldn't he maybe lure Zod to an open, empty, isolated area (like, oh I don't know, some sort of Fortress of Solitude?) and then super-punch him there? Also, wouldn't it be a more intense scene if Zod was constantly putting people in danger to distract and overwhelm Supes? The destruction would, in a way, be justified. It ties into the themes of the story, and Superman proves to the people he's here to protect them. But, nope. CRASH. LASERS. BOOM. SMASH. 'SPLOSION. PUNcH. BIFF. WHACK. KABOOM. KERSMASH. CRUNCH. ZING. SNAP. 

Forget what I said. That's an engaging and well-written climax. 

(CBS, Neoseeker)

The destruction in Man of Steel is pointless, unnecessary, over-the-top, and nonsensical.

Kind of like Zack Snyder's comment.

I'm happy that the destruction will have a major impact on the story in Batman v. Superman, and who knows? Maybe the movie will change my opinion on all that chaos?

So Zack Snyder, please watch the movies you defend and criticize before you defend or criticize them, even if they're your own. As a film-lover, amateur filmmaker, journalist and critc, and as a pseudo fan of yours, I'd really appreciate it.

Noah